Regenerative Tourism: Embracing Local Communities and Sustainable Resource Management
The Tourism Innovation Summit 2024 (TIS2024) showcased key strategies tourism industry leaders implement to foster regenerative tourism, integrate with local communities, and optimize resource management. Major players such as Amadeus, Vueling, Radisson Hotel Group, and UNICEF emphasized the critical role of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals.
TIS2024 opened (23 October 2024) with a strong focus on sustainability, underscoring the importance of avoiding negative cultural impacts, managing visitor experiences in partnership with local governments, and improving conditions for tourism sector employees. This approach aims to help local communities appreciate tourism as a positive force.
Integrating Local Communities
Variety Cruises exemplifies the principles of regenerative tourism, striving to create a positive impact at sea and within local cultures. CEO Filippos Venetopoulos highlighted measures to reduce overcrowding, including a 25-euro tourist fee in Santorini to support improvements in other destinations. Venetopoulos emphasized sustainability across operations, from designing eco-friendly itineraries to organizing beach cleanups and sourcing local seafood.
Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, stressed the need for a broad view of sustainability beyond environmental concerns. “It’s about governance, social, and economic aspects,” he stated, advocating for aligning the interests of tourists and local communities. Fernández argued that well-integrated regenerative tourism efforts could enhance employee retention and help communities see tourism as mutually beneficial.
Amit Sharma, Advisor at the Saudi Tourism Authority, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing value over volume. He advocated for quality experiences focused on local culture and cuisine, led by knowledgeable guides. Sharma called for more precise indicators and benchmarks to measure progress in regenerative tourism, predicting it could become mainstream shortly.
Sustainability at the Core
According to Amadeus’s Travel Technology Investments Trends 2024 report, 87% of hoteliers view sustainability as essential. Agnes Pierce, Director and Global Head of Sustainability – Hospitality at Amadeus, stressed the importance of aligning the tourism ecosystem to support local sustainability initiatives. Pierce affirmed that Amadeus aims to create sustainable travel experiences accessible to all.
Santiago Lopezbarrena, Head of Sustainability at Vueling, underscored the significance of partnerships in advancing sustainability goals. He outlined Vueling’s three-pillar strategy: promoting sustainable fuels, enhancing fleet efficiency, and leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact.
Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability and Security Officer at Radisson Hotel Group reiterated the company’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. She emphasized the need to integrate sustainability into guest experiences, citing actions like reducing single-use plastics and installing electric vehicle chargers. Huijbrechts also highlighted the importance of transparency and clear communication with travelers to build trust in sustainable travel.
Marta López, Head of Corporate Partnerships at UNICEF Spain, drew attention to the tourism sector’s slow progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She stressed the need to prioritize the social dimension of sustainability, particularly in supporting children’s rights, stating, “This is not just a philanthropic agenda; it’s essential for business success.”
